how to find pinned tabs on safari iphone

How to Pin and Unpin Safari Tabs on Your iPhone

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Apple's iOS 16 software update has brought along some pretty neat features. From visual changes to increased functionality, a lot has been covered. One new feature is the ability to pin tabs in Safari.

If you use a Mac, you may already be aware of this feature in macOS, but it's finally making its way to the iPhone and iPad. So, here, we'll take a look at how you can pin tabs in Safari, manage them, and how beneficial the feature can be.

Why Would You Want to Pin a Safari Tab?

Remember when you had to scroll through your tab manager to search for a specific website? Those days are over.

Pinned tabs allow quick and easy website access as they appear right at the top. It helps you stay better organized and is very time efficient as you don't have to spend time searching for them in a sea of irrelevant and forgotten tabs.

It is beneficial if you visit a website frequently, as pinned tabs open whenever you open Safari. For example, you can pin your favorite newspaper, magazine, or website to catch up on the news daily without having to type in the URL every time.

If you find this feature useful, chances are you're someone who uses Safari often. If that is the case, you may also want to look at the different ways to customize Safari on your iPhone to give it a new look.

How to Pin Tabs in Safari on Your iPhone

There are two ways you can pin a tab in Safari, both of which are quick and easy. Follow these steps to pin a tab in Safari:

• Open Safari and then open the website you want to pin.
• Long-press on the URL in the address bar until a pop-up appears. Note that Safari allows you to move the search bar to the top of the screen or leave it at the bottom.
• Select Pin Tab from the options.

The second method allows you to pin tabs from the tab manager in Safari. This can be quicker if you want to pin multiple tabs at once, as you will not have to type in the URL every time, provided the tabs are already open. Here are the steps:

• Click on the Tabs icon at the bottom of the screen. You will see a preview of all open tabs.
• Long-press the tab you want to pin until you get a pop-up.
• Now, select Pin Tab from the context menu.

Repeat these steps until you have pinned all the tabs you want.

How to Unpin Tabs in Safari on Your iPhone

When you want to remove a pinned tab, you can follow the same instructions we mentioned above to reverse the process and unpin a tab.

So, long-press the URL or a tab in the tab manager and select Unpin Tab from the pop-up menu.

Unfortunately, there's no way to unpin all pinned tabs at once, so you'll have to take your time and do it individually.

Use Pins to Organize Your Tabs in Safari

You can pin tabs in Safari on an iPhone or iPad running iOS 16/iPadOS 16 and later. All you have to do is press and hold, and the job's done. So, use this feature to stay on top of your favorite tabs in Safari.

You can unpin tabs just as quickly (provided you don't have a lot of them), so you can switch it up any time you want. As good as this sounds, this isn't the only noteworthy feature Apple has released with iOS 16.

The Messages app in iOS 16 lets you unsend and edit messages. The Lock Screen now features widgets, and they're completely customizable—you can even add widgets from third-party apps.

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• iPhone models compatible with iOS 17
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Organize your tabs with Tab Groups in Safari on iPhone

Create a new Tab Group

Touch and hold a tab, then choose Move to Tab Group.

Tap New Tab Group, enter a name, then tap Move.

Reorder tabs in a Tab Group

Touch and hold a tab in the Tab Group.

In the menu that appears, tap Arrange Tabs By, then choose an option.

Or, just drag the tab to where you want it.

Rename a Tab Group

Tap Rename, enter a name, then tap Save.

Pin a tab at the top of a Tab Group

You can customize your Tab Groups with pinned tabs in each group. The pinned tab stays at the top of the Tab Group.

Touch and hold the tab you want to pin.

In the menu that appears, tap Pin Tab.

Move a tab to another Tab Group

Choose one of the Tab Groups you created previously, or create a new group.

How to Pin Tabs in Safari on iPhone, iPad, and Mac

Paurush dabbles around iOS and Mac while his close encounters are with Android and Windows. Before becoming a writer, he produced videos for brands like Mr. Phone and Digit. On weekends, he is a full-time cinephile trying to reduce his never-ending watchlist, often making it longer.

Safari browser lets you open multiple tabs and browse different websites simultaneously on your iPhone, iPad, and Mac. It also allows you to create Tab Groups for frequently visited websites to access them again quickly.

Sometimes, there are specific websites or web pages that you discover, and they gather your interest. It can be an article, a Google Form, a newsletter, etc., which you don’t want to get lost. In that case, you can pin one or multiple tabs in Safari. In this post, we will show you how to pin tabs in Safari on your iPhone, iPad, and Mac.

How to Pin Tabs in Safari on iPhone and iPad

First, Let us show you how to pin tabs of your favorite websites in Safari on iPhone and iPad. The biggest reason you should pin tabs is not to lose them when you close the browser or switch to checking out something different. We suggest using the latest Safari version on your iPhone or iPad to avoid any issues while pinning tabs.

Step 1: Open Safari on your iPhone or iPad.

Step 2: Tap on the Tabs icon at the bottom-right corner to see all your tabs.

Step 3: Long-press on the tab icon that you want to pin and select Pin Tab.

If you scroll to the top, you will see the icon of your pinned tab. You can follow the same steps for pinning any tab in Safari. You can find all your pinned tabs in Safari at the top of the tabs window.

Unpin Tabs in Safari on iPhone and iPad

If you want to unpin a tab or multiple tabs, long-press the pinned tab icon at the top and select Unpin Tab from the list of options.

You can also choose to arrange your tabs in the order of either their title or by their website name.

How to Pin Tabs in Safari on Mac

Let us move on to the Mac and show you the steps to pin one or multiple tabs in Safari. Ensure that you are using the latest version of Safari on your Mac.

Step 1: Press Command + Spacebar keyword shortcut to open Spotlight Search, type Safari, and press Return.

Step 2: Right-click on the tab that you want to pin and select Pin Tab from the list of options.

To unpin a tab or group of tabs, repeat the same steps and select Unpin Tab from the list of options.

Best Fixes for Can’t Pin Tabs in Safari

If you cannot pin tabs or pinned tabs are disappearing in Safari, here are some solutions you can opt for to fix the issue.

1. Don’t Use Tab Groups

A few users have suggested avoiding creating Tab Groups after you have pinned your tabs. As of writing this post, there is no way of seeing your pinned tabs after creating their Tab Groups.

2. Force Quit and Relaunch Safari

This will give the app a fresh start and help fix the issue.

On iPhone and iPad

Step 1: On the home screen, swipe up and hold to reveal the background app windows.

Step 2: Swipe right to look for Safari and then swipe up to force quit the app.

Step 3: Relaunch Safari and check if the problem is solved.

Step 1: Click the Apple logo at the top-left corner and select Force Quit.

Step 2: Select Safari from the list of apps and click on Force Quit.

3. Clear Safari App Cache

You can clear the app cache of Safari on your iPhone, iPad, and Mac. This will remove all the data and browsing preferences stored over some time on your device. The app cache is prone to get corrupted over time, which can cause such issues. You can refer to our post to learn how to clear the Safari app cache .

Don’t Lose Your Tabs

You can pin or unpin tabs in Safari to improve your browsing experience. But you can refer to our post if tabs are closing automatically in the Safari browser . We have provided the best working solutions to fix the issue.

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Last updated on 16 October, 2023

The above article may contain affiliate links which help support Guiding Tech. However, it does not affect our editorial integrity. The content remains unbiased and authentic.

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How to pin tabs in Safari on iPhone, iPad, and Mac

Safari has a Pin Tab feature that allows you to ‘pin’ frequently visited websites that always stay in place, letting you access them quickly. These tabs remain pinned even if you open a new Safari window or quit and relaunch Safari.

In this tutorial, we show you how to pin and unpin Safari tabs on iPhone, iPad, and Mac.

Pin tabs in Safari on iPhone or iPad

You have two ways to pin tabs in Safari running iOS 16 or later.

• Open Safari and visit the website you want to pin.
• Tap and hold the address bar and choose Pin Tab .

Another method is equally easy and takes just a few taps.

• Go inside Safari and tap the tabs button to see all open tabs.
• Tap and hold the tab and choose Pin Tab .

Access pinned tabs

Tap the tabs button , and you will see your pinned tabs at the top.

Unpin pinned tabs

If you no longer need to keep a tab pinned, go to that tab, then tap and hold the address bar and choose Unpin Tab .

Alternatively, you can tap the tabs button, tap and hold the pinned tab strip, and pick Unpin Tab from the popped-up menu.

Pin Safari tabs on Mac

• Click Window from the top menu bar and choose Pin Tab .

• Make sure the site you want to pin is open in Safari.
• Right-click or hold the Control button and click once over the address bar. Choose Pin Tab from the menu that appears.

Note: This may not work if you have selected Separate tab layout in Safari Preferences and have just one tab open.

Irrespective of Separate or Compact tab layouts, you can right-click and choose to pin tab if you have at least two tabs open.

• Ensure you have two Safari tabs open if you use the Separate tab layout. If you use the Compact tab layout, one open tab is enough.
• Place the pointer over one of the tabs bars and drag it left until the tab shrinks into a small square.

Duplicate pinned tab

Once you have pinned a tab in Safari on Mac, right-click over its pinned tab icon and pick Duplicate Tab .

No longer need pinned tabs in Mac’s Safari? Drag it to the right , and it should unpin. In case dragging doesn’t work for you, right-click over the pinned tab icon and choose Unpin Tab .

Alternatively, select the Close Tab option if you no longer need this site to be open.

Opening links inside pinned tabs

Most links on a web page are of two types – one that opens in the same tab ( like this one ) and another that automatically opens in a new tab ( like this one ).

Irrespective of what the website administrator has set, any external website link you visit in a pinned tab always opens in a new, separate tab.

For example, suppose you pinned an iDB post in Safari. Now, if you visit any other iDB link from that pinned post, it will open in the same tab (unless the iDB author has set that link to automatically open in a new tab). However, if that pinned post has a link to some other site, like Apple.com , and you tap it, that other site will always open in a new tab, irrespective of whether the iDB author has set that link to open in the same tab or a new tab.

In other words, a pinned website stays pinned unless unpinned. Therefore, a link to a different website from a pinned tab always opens in a new tab.

• Visit this Apple.com link, and it will open in the current tab.
• Next, use the back button to come back here and pin this iDB post in Safari.
• Now, click the same Apple.com link above, and it will automatically open in a new tab. This way, iDB always stays pinned even when you visit another website via it.

Pinned tabs stay even if you quit and reopen Safari

Once you have pinned a site, it will remain pinned even if you close Safari and reopen it later or restart your device.

Pinned tabs stay even if you open a new window

After you have pinned a website, it appears as a pinned tab even if you open another Safari window on Mac or iPad. However, tabs already pinned in a standard window won’t appear if you open a private Safari window.

Pinned tabs in private Safari window

You can pin tabs in private Safari windows. But there are a few things to note.

I found that if you pin a site in a private Safari window, it appears pinned even if you open another private window. However, once you close all private windows or quit and reopen Safari, tabs pinned in the private window are gone. In short, pinned tabs in a private Safari window on Mac stay only for that particular private session.

Unlike Mac, I witnessed a different story in Safari on iOS. Sites I pinned in a private session in Safari on iPhone stayed pinned even after I went out of private browsing or quit and relaunched Safari.

Pinned tabs don’t sync over iCloud

Unlike bookmarks, Favorites, and other settings, pinned tabs in Safari don’t sync to your Apple devices. That means if you pin a site in Safari on your Mac, it doesn’t appear as a pinned site on your iPhone, iPad, or other Mac.

Pinned tabs in Tab Groups

With iOS 16, you can even pin tabs inside Tab Groups. The steps are the same as above. Create a new Tab Group , and you can pin sites here. Anytime you return to this Tab Group, your pinned sites will be there for you.

This is how you can pin tabs inside Safari on your Apple devices. Besides pinning, you can also bookmark important sites to save them for later reference. And for even quicker access, consider adding sites as favorites !

Other Safari tips:

• How to fix Safari tabs disappearing on iPad and iPhone
• How to customize and personalize Safari on iPhone and iPad
• How and why to update Safari, Chrome, and other web browsers on iPhone and Mac
• How to translate words, sentences, and text found in images in Safari, Notes, Photos, and other apps

How to Pin a Tab in Safari on iPhone

Want to eliminate the chances of accidentally closing an important tab for a website you use all the time? Pin it, and it will always be there, ready and waiting for you. Here's how to do it.

Why You'll Love This Tip

• Never accidentally close an important tab again.
• Pinned tabs are low profile to save space for other things.

How to Pin a Tab in Safari

Pinning tabs is very easy to do and can both help you stay organized and keep you from losing your most important, frequently accessed tabs. For more helpful information on organizing Safari, see our guide on creating tab groups , and make sure to sign up for our free Tip of the Day newsletter to get tips on all the new iOS features.

Author Details

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How to pin Safari tabs on your iPhone

Here is how you can pin Safari tabs on your iPhone in just a few simple steps.

Apple has finally decided to bring a well-loved Mac feature over to the iPhone series in the last iOS upgrade. iOS 16 offers many more features than its predecessor, with many of them being designed with the aim of making navigating the iPhone feel smoother and more natural.

One of which is the ability to pin Safari tabs. This makes it much easier to keep track of any important tabs that you have open and gives users the ability to organise how they use Safari.

If you want to learn more about how to pin Safari tabs on your iPhone, keep reading, as we will be explaining it in just a few simple steps.

What you’ll need: 

• A compatible iPhone running on iOS 16

The Short Version 

Open safari, click on the tabs button, hold down on the tab you want to save.

• Click Pin Tab

Click on Pin Tab

Troubleshooting

Yes, you can pin multiple tabs in Safari on the iPhone.

No, you will need to be running iOS 16 to access this feature, meaning that iPhones that are not compatible with iOS 16 also won’t be able to access this feature.

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How To Pin Tabs On Safari IPhone

• Software & Applications
• Browsers & Extensions

Introduction

When it comes to browsing the web on your iPhone, Safari is the go-to browser for many users. Its sleek interface, seamless integration with other Apple devices, and robust features make it a popular choice. One such feature that can greatly enhance your browsing experience is the ability to pin tabs.

Pinning tabs allows you to keep your frequently visited websites readily accessible with a single tap, eliminating the need to search through your browsing history or bookmarks. Whether it's a news website you visit every morning, a productivity tool you use throughout the day, or a favorite blog you enjoy reading, pinning tabs can save you time and streamline your browsing routine.

In this guide, we will walk you through the simple steps to pin tabs on Safari for iPhone. By the end of this tutorial, you'll be able to effortlessly pin your favorite websites, making them easily accessible whenever you need them. So, let's dive in and unlock the potential of Safari's tab-pinning feature to optimize your browsing experience on your iPhone.

Step 1: Open Safari on iPhone

To begin the process of pinning tabs on Safari for iPhone, you first need to open the Safari browser on your device. Safari is the default web browser on all Apple devices, including the iPhone, and its icon typically features a compass rose on a blue background. You can find the Safari icon on your home screen or by swiping down and using the search feature to locate it quickly.

Once you've located the Safari icon, simply tap on it to launch the browser. Upon opening Safari, you will be greeted by the familiar interface, featuring the address bar at the top and the navigation controls at the bottom of the screen. Safari's clean and intuitive design makes it easy to navigate and access the features you need.

If you have multiple tabs open from a previous browsing session, Safari will restore them, allowing you to pick up where you left off. Alternatively, if Safari opens to a new tab, you are ready to proceed with the next steps to pin the tabs of your frequently visited websites.

Opening Safari on your iPhone is the first step towards harnessing the power of tab-pinning, enabling you to streamline your browsing experience and access your favorite websites with unparalleled convenience. With Safari at your fingertips, you're now ready to move on to the next step and learn how to pin tabs, so you can effortlessly access your go-to websites whenever you need them.

Step 2: Open the website you want to pin

After launching Safari on your iPhone, the next step is to open the website that you want to pin. Whether it's a news site, a productivity tool, a social media platform, or any other website you frequently visit, Safari makes it easy to access and pin these sites for quick and convenient retrieval.

To open the website you want to pin, simply tap on the address bar at the top of the Safari interface. This will activate the on-screen keyboard , allowing you to enter the URL of the website directly. Alternatively, if you have the website's URL saved as a bookmark or in your browsing history, you can access it by tapping on the bookmarks icon or navigating to the history section.

Once you've entered the URL or selected the website from your bookmarks or history, Safari will load the webpage, displaying its content within the browser window . You can then interact with the website, scroll through its pages, and access its various features and functionalities.

Safari's rendering engine ensures that websites are displayed accurately and responsively on your iPhone, providing a seamless browsing experience. Whether you're accessing a text-heavy news site, a visually rich blog, or a dynamic web application, Safari optimizes the display to suit the dimensions and capabilities of your device.

As you explore the website and interact with its content, you may come across specific pages or sections that you want to pin for easy access. This could be a homepage, a dashboard, a specific article, or any other part of the website that you find particularly useful or engaging.

By opening the website you want to pin, you're taking the crucial step towards enhancing your browsing efficiency. Safari's user-friendly interface and robust performance ensure that you can seamlessly navigate to your desired websites and prepare them for pinning, enabling you to create a personalized and accessible browsing environment on your iPhone.

With the website open in Safari, you're now ready to proceed to the next step and learn how to pin the tab, allowing you to effortlessly access your favorite websites whenever you need them.

Step 3: Pin the tab

Once you have the desired website open in Safari on your iPhone, pinning the tab is a straightforward process that can significantly enhance your browsing convenience. By pinning a tab, you can keep the website readily accessible with a single tap, ensuring that it remains easily available whenever you need it.

To pin the tab in Safari , follow these simple steps:

Long-Press the Refresh Button : At the top of the Safari interface, you'll find the refresh button, typically represented by a circular arrow icon. To pin the tab, long-press this button until a menu appears on the screen.

Select "Pin Tab" : Upon long-pressing the refresh button, a menu will pop up, presenting you with various options. From this menu, select "Pin Tab." This action will instantly pin the current tab, creating a compact and easily accessible version of the website's tab at the left-hand side of the tab bar.

Access the Pinned Tab : Once you've pinned the tab, you can easily access it by tapping on the small icon that represents the pinned website. This allows you to quickly navigate to the pinned website, bypassing the need to search through your browsing history or bookmarks.

By following these steps, you can effortlessly pin tabs in Safari on your iPhone, optimizing your browsing experience and ensuring that your frequently visited websites are always within reach. Whether it's a news site, a productivity tool, a favorite blog, or any other website you rely on, pinning tabs can streamline your access to these online resources, saving you time and simplifying your browsing routine.

Pinning tabs in Safari is a powerful feature that empowers you to create a personalized and efficient browsing environment on your iPhone. With your favorite websites just a tap away, you can seamlessly transition between different online resources, staying productive and informed while enjoying a streamlined browsing experience.

Now that you've learned how to pin tabs in Safari on your iPhone, you can take full advantage of this feature to tailor your browsing experience to your preferences and access your go-to websites with unparalleled convenience.

Step 4: Access pinned tabs

Once you've successfully pinned tabs in Safari on your iPhone, accessing them is a seamless process that puts your favorite websites at your fingertips. Whether you've pinned news websites for quick updates, productivity tools for efficient task management, or entertainment sites for leisurely browsing, Safari's tab-pinning feature ensures that these resources are readily available whenever you need them.

To access your pinned tabs in Safari, simply follow these steps:

Tap the Pinned Tab Icon : At the left-hand side of the tab bar in Safari, you'll find the icons representing your pinned tabs. Each icon corresponds to a specific website that you've pinned. To access a pinned tab, tap on the corresponding icon. This action will instantly load the pinned website, allowing you to dive into its content without the need to search or navigate through your browsing history.

Switch Between Pinned Tabs : If you have multiple tabs pinned in Safari, you can easily switch between them by tapping on the respective icons. This enables you to seamlessly transition between your favorite websites, accessing their content with a single tap. Whether you're staying updated with the latest news, managing tasks with online tools, or exploring engaging content, Safari's tab-pinning feature empowers you to navigate your pinned tabs effortlessly.

Enjoy Instant Access : By accessing your pinned tabs in Safari, you benefit from instant access to your preferred online resources. Whether you're in a rush and need quick information or simply want to enjoy your favorite websites without delay, pinned tabs ensure that the content you value is just a tap away. This streamlined access saves you time and enhances your browsing experience, allowing you to focus on the content that matters most to you.

Accessing pinned tabs in Safari on your iPhone is a game-changer, providing you with a personalized and efficient way to interact with your go-to websites. Whether you're a news enthusiast, a productivity aficionado, or a casual browser, Safari's tab-pinning feature empowers you to tailor your browsing experience to your preferences, ensuring that your favorite websites are always within reach.

With the ability to access pinned tabs in Safari, you can effortlessly stay informed, productive, and entertained, all while enjoying the convenience of having your preferred online resources just a tap away. This seamless access to pinned tabs enhances your browsing routine, allowing you to make the most of your time online and enjoy a tailored and efficient browsing experience on your iPhone.

In conclusion, the ability to pin tabs in Safari on your iPhone is a game-changer, offering a simple yet powerful way to optimize your browsing experience. By following the straightforward steps outlined in this guide, you can effortlessly pin your favorite websites, ensuring that they are always within reach whenever you need them.

The convenience of pinned tabs cannot be overstated. Whether you rely on news websites for timely updates, productivity tools for efficient task management, or entertainment sites for leisurely browsing, Safari's tab-pinning feature empowers you to tailor your browsing experience to your preferences. With just a tap, you can access the content that matters most to you, saving time and streamlining your online routine.

By pinning tabs in Safari, you create a personalized and efficient browsing environment on your iPhone. This feature allows you to seamlessly transition between different online resources, staying productive and informed while enjoying a streamlined browsing experience. Whether you're a casual browser or a dedicated enthusiast, the ability to pin tabs enhances your interaction with the web, ensuring that your go-to websites are always at your fingertips.

Furthermore, the intuitive nature of Safari's tab-pinning process makes it accessible to users of all levels. Whether you're new to tab management or a seasoned browsing aficionado, the simplicity of pinning tabs in Safari ensures that you can tailor your browsing experience to your preferences with ease.

In essence, the ability to pin tabs in Safari on your iPhone represents a significant enhancement to your browsing routine. It empowers you to access your preferred online resources with unparalleled convenience, allowing you to make the most of your time online and enjoy a tailored and efficient browsing experience. With your favorite websites just a tap away, you can seamlessly navigate the web, staying informed, productive, and entertained, all while benefiting from the streamlined access that pinned tabs provide.

So, take advantage of Safari's tab-pinning feature, and unlock the potential to optimize your browsing experience on your iPhone. With pinned tabs at your disposal, you can effortlessly access the content that matters most to you, ensuring that your favorite websites are always within reach, ready to enrich your online journey.

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How to Pin Safari Tabs in iOS 17 on iPhone and iPad 

Recently, Safari has received some notable features. One of my favorite new add-ons is the ability to pin tabs. This is exactly what you need to access a specific tab with ease; especially when you have several open tabs. It can save time and also play a vital role in speeding up your browsing experience. On this very note, read on to learn how to pin Safari tabs iOS 17 on iPhone and iPad.

Pin Safari Tabs in iOS 17/iPadOS 17 on iPhone and iPad 

First off, let’s find out all the pros of pinning a tab in Safari!

Why Should You Pin Safari Tabs on Your iPhone or iPad?

What I particularly love about Safari’s pinned tabs feature is that it enables me to better organize tabs. Moreover, it also offers a pretty straightforward way to access the websites that I often visit.

Since a pinned Safari tab is moved right to the top of the open tabs screen, you can head over to a site with just a click. Yeah, no more digging into the entire tab group to find a specific tab.

Even better, the pinned tabs always stay in place. Yes, you read that right! Your pinned Safari tabs always remain open even when you quit/reopen Safari or open a new window.

Notably, when you tap a link to another website from a pinned tab, Safari opens the other website in a new tab. As a result, the pinned tab always displays the website you pinned. Pretty neat, isn’t it?

In terms of functionality, it’s inspired by (you guessed it!) macOS Safari. So, if you are already a Safari user on Mac, chances are you are going to love every bit of this new add-on.

Quick Way to Pin a Tab in Safari in iOS 17 and iPadOS 17

Step 1. To get started, open Safari on your iPhone or iPad.

Step 2. Now, tap on the tabs icon at the bottom right corner of the screen.

Step 3. Next, long-press the URL bar and choose Pin Tab in the popup menu and you are good to go!

When you are viewing Safari’s open tabs browser screen, head over to an open tab that you want to pin. Then, long press on the tab and choose the Pin Tab option.

It’s worth pointing out that iOS 17 allows you to pin not only multiple tabs in Safari but also pin tabs, which are part of Tab Groups to ensure they are open all the time.

Easy Way to Pin a Tab to a Tab Group in Safari on iOS 17 and iPadOS 17

Step 1. Open Safari on your device -> Tap on the tabs icon at the bottom right corner of the screen.

Step 2. Now, tap on the X tabs at the bottom of the screen.

Step 3. Next, open a Tab Group .

Step 4. Next up, long-press on the URL bar and hit the Pin Tab option.

How to Unpin Safari Tabs on iPhone or iPad

Later, if you ever want to unpin a tab in Safari, you can do so with utmost ease.

Step 1. Open Safari -> tap on the tabs icon at the bottom right corner of the screen.

Step 2. Now, touch and hold on to the pinned tab and choose Unpin Tab in the menu.

Wrapping up…

There you go! So, that’s how you can pin a tab in Safari on your iPhone or iPad. Now that you know how this handy feature works, make the most of it to speed up your browsing experience.

Rajesh Mishra

Editor-in-Chief: Rajesh Mishra (Your beloved “R.K” 360 Reader Voice) is a Shakespearean poet at heart who turned a tech nerd while having a secret rendezvous with iPhone 4. When that rendezvous turned obsession, he let go of his hard-core political journalism in favour of the lifelong love-affair with technology. In a career spanning one and a half decades, Mr. Mishra has crafted over 8K articles and around 2K YouTube videos. He is probably the only journalist alive with this unique achievement. When he is not at his desk, you may find him either engrossed in a Deathmatch or chasing Wordsworth!

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Everything New in Safari in iOS 16: Shared Tab Groups, Extension Syncing, Web Push Notifications and More

The iOS 16 Safari update builds on the Tab Groups feature introduced in iOS 16, plus it adds some much-needed quality of life improvements and security enhancements.

Tab Group Updates

Introduced in iOS 15, Tab Groups let you organize and save your tabs into different segments that you can swap between. So, for example, if you're planning a trip, you can save all your tabs into a "Trip" group. In iOS 16, Apple takes Tab Groups even further with new features.

Pinned Tabs

Pinned tabs are now available in iOS 16 and iPadOS 16, and they can be used in Tab Groups. If you have tabs in your Tab Group that you want to have open all the time, pinning is an option. To pin a tab to a Tab Group in iOS 16, open up the Tab Group then long press on the URL bar in Safari and choose the "Pin Tab" option.

• How to Pin Tabs in Safari on iPhone and iPad

Tab Group Start Pages

Every Tab Group has its own separate Start Page in iOS 16, so you can have different favorites, frequently visited sites, and other options that are exclusive to each group of tabs.

• How to Create Favorites Within a Safari Tab Group

Shared Tab Groups

Any Tab Group you've created can now be shared with friends and family, allowing multiple people to contribute links and work together. Everyone can add tabs and see the Tab Group update instantly.

• How to Share Safari Tab Groups

Passkeys are meant to replace traditional passwords when signing into websites or apps, and Apple is aiming to roll out Passkeys starting in iOS 16, iPadOS 16, and macOS Ventura.

Passkeys rely on iCloud Keychain, which in turn requires two-factor authentication for further protection. Passkeys sync across all of a user's devices through ‌iCloud‌ Keychain, which is end-to-end encrypted with its own cryptographic keys.

Passkeys will work on all Apple devices, but Apple is also working with companies like Microsoft and Google to ensure that Passkeys can also be used with non-Apple devices.

Extension Syncing

If you've downloaded an extension on another device, you can see it in the Safari preferences on your ‌iPhone‌ thanks to Extensions syncing, a new iOS 16 feature.

If you don't want to share extensions across devices, you can toggle off the option in the same Settings section.

Web Push Notifications

Website push notifications have been available through Safari on the Mac for some time now, but in iOS 16, these push notifications are also going to be available on the ‌iPhone‌ and iPad .

Support for web push notifications won't be available when iOS 16 launches, with the feature coming in an update later this year.

As on the Mac, web notifications will be available on an opt-in basis, and you will be able to choose websites to receive notifications for.

Website Settings Sync

Your website settings like page zoom, automatic Reader view, and more, will now sync across devices so you only need to set your preferences once. If you don't want to share settings for websites across devices, you can toggle it off in the Safari section of the Settings app.

Strong Password Editing

When you're creating a website account using Safari, Safari will suggest a strong password for you to use, which syncs with ‌iCloud‌ Keychain. Unfortunately, some websites have specific requirements like a certain number of symbols or capital letters that strong passwords don't always fulfill.

• How to Customize Suggested Strong Passwords

Focus Filters

Apple in iOS 16 added a new Focus option called Filters. Filters are designed to allow users to filter out content within apps, displaying a specific Safari Tab Group or Mail account. When you use a Focus with a filter set, the app with the filter will only show what you've selected, hiding everything else.

Lift Subject From Background

iOS 16 has a fun feature that lets you drag subjects right out of images, and it works in the Safari app. Open up a webpage with any image, long press on the image, and then choose the "Copy Subject" option.

• How to Lift Subjects From Images on the Web

Guide Feedback

Have questions about Safari in iOS 16, know of a feature we left out, or want to offer feedback on this guide? Send us an email here .

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Lipstick on a pig

Does the new iCloud Password Editing feature allow you to change easily the already set passwords? Because many times we need to change the password and using iCloud Keychain used to be a bit difficult or clunky (or I’m doing it wrong). Also I’m really wishing passkeys are broadly implemented soon.

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How to Pin Safari Tabs on iPhone: A Quick Guide

If you’re tired of sifting through a sea of open tabs in Safari, you’re not alone. Fortunately, iOS 16 brings a handy feature to the iPhone that allows you to pin your favorite tabs and keep them readily accessible. Whether it’s your go-to news website, a frequently visited blog, or an essential reference page, pinned tabs ensure quick access without the hassle of searching. In this guide, we’ll walk you through how to pin Safari tabs on your iPhone , along with some useful tips.

Why Pin Safari Tabs?

Before we dive into the how-to, let’s explore why you might want to use pinned tabs in Safari:

• Instant Access : Pinned tabs appear right at the top, making them easily accessible whenever you open Safari.
• Organization : Keep your essential websites neatly organized without cluttering your tab bar.
• Time Efficiency : No more scrolling through a long list of tabs—pinned tabs save you time and frustration.

How to Pin Tabs in Safari on Your iPhone

Method 1: Pinning from the Address Bar

• Open Safari on your iPhone .
• Visit the website you want to pin.
• Long-press on the URL  in the address bar until a pop-up menu appears.
• Select  “Pin Tab”  from the options.

Method 2: Pinning from the Tab Manager

• Tap the  Tabs icon  at the bottom of the Safari screen.
• You’ll see a preview of all your open tabs .
• Long-press the tab  you want to pin.
• Choose  “Pin Tab”  from the context menu.

Repeat these steps for any additional tabs you want to pin. Pinned tabs will remain open even when you close Safari, ensuring quick access whenever you need them.

How to Unpin Tabs in Safari on Your iPhone

When you want to remove a pinned tab, follow the same instructions in reverse:

• Long-press the  URL or tab  you want to unpin.
• Select  “Unpin Tab”  from the pop-up menu.

Unfortunately, there’s no way to unpin all tabs at once, so you’ll need to do it individually.

Tips for Effective Tab Management

• Customize Your Pinned Tabs : Rearrange the order of your pinned tabs by dragging them left or right.
• Use Pinned Tabs Sparingly : Reserve them for your most frequently visited websites to avoid clutter.
• Stay Organized : Regularly review your pinned tabs and unpin any that are no longer essential.

Pinning tabs in Safari on your iPhone is a simple yet powerful way to streamline your browsing experience. Whether it’s news, reference material, or your favorite blog, pinned tabs keep your essential websites just a tap away.

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10 Ways to Easily Find Safari Tabs On Your iPhone and iPad

Web browsing in 2022 can be quite hectic, leading to a pile-up of tabs ranging from essential to non-essential to even unwarranted tabs. Hence, a browser must offer a quick way of finding specific tabs that concern you. Fortunately, Safari, allows you to scout for tabs based on several identifiers namely, websites, recently closed tabs, previous/next tabs , etc.

This article will take you through set-by-step guides of all the above-mentioned ways of finding a Safari tab. So, without further ado, let’s find the tab you’re looking for.

What’s new for tabs in Safari with iOS 15

Apple revamped Safari’s UI and features with the release of iOS 15. This new update came out in September 2021 and has introduced numerous cosmetic changes as well as new features in the app. Here are some of the most prominent ones to help you get familiar with the new Safari on mobile devices.

• Grid view : Tabs on Safari now appear as tiles in a grid. The grid view allows you to see tabs as a whole so you can distinguish between tabs based on their preview thumbnails. This is a departure from the card-like tab view from iOS 14.
• Tab Group : Tabs in Safari can now be organized into groups. This allows you to group a set of tabs without having to close your original browsing session. In many ways, the tab group feature functions like opening a different browser window on desktop devices.
• Landscape tab bar : Enabling the landscape tab bar will add a mac-style tab bar on the top of your Safari window. The second layer of this tab bar displays the list of tabs opened in your browsing session.
• Pull down to Refresh : An alternative to tapping the reload button, Safari now allows you to refresh a webpage with a downward swipe and release motion.

Related: iOS 15: How To Drag and Duplicate Tabs on Safari on Your iPhone and iPad

How to easily find Safari tabs on your iPhone in 10 ways

Not only can your browsing session be time sensitive but, generally speaking, the ability to find a specific tab in a cluster of tabs is a must for enjoying uninterrupted web browsing. 

Let’s see all the ways you can locate and subsequently navigate to the tab you wish in Safari.

Method 1: View all your tabs

Open Safari on your iPhone.

In your Safari browsing session, tap on the tabs option in the bottom right corner of your screen. This will open the grid view off all the tabs opened in your browsing session.

In the tab-view page, you will see each tab represented as a separate grid. From this page, you can open a specific tab by tapping on it.

You can also close a tab by tapping on the ‘X’ located in the upper-right corner of a tab.

The tab-view page also tells you the names assigned to each tap depending on the website opened in them and the total number of tabs open in your current browsing session. 

Method 2: Search for a tab by name

Tap on the ‘Tabs’  icon in the bottom right corner.

In the tab-view page, swipe down to access the Search bar at the top.

Type in the name of the tab you wish to find and it should automatically show up in your search results.

Note : Tab name is the same as the name of the website opened in that tab.

Method 3: Find recently closed Safari tabs

Open Safari on your iPhone from the home screen or the app drawer depending on your setup.

Tap on the tabs option. This will open the tab-view page.

Tap and hold your finger on the ‘+’ icon near the lower-left corner of the tab-view page.

You will see a list of websites indicated by ‘Recently Closed Tabs’. Tap and select the recently closed tab you wish to open.

The recently closed tab will be opened as a new tab in your current browsing session.

Method 4: Find Safari tabs in a tab group

Safari on iOS 15 allows you to group your current browsing session as a group and assign this group a name. This way, you can treat each group as a separate browsing session.

Let’s see how you can find tabs from a tab group by first loading a tab group and then performing a search.

Open Safari on your iOS device.

Now tap on the ‘Tabs’ icon in the bottom right corner. 

Tap on ‘X Tabs’ at the bottom of your screen where X is the number of tabs open in your current browsing session.

Tap on the Tap Group you wish to search. For this guide, we will be using the tab group titled ‘Nerds Chalk’.

You will now be able to view a list of all the tabs saved in your selected tab group.

Swipe down on your screen to access the Search Bar at the top.

Type in the tab name, or a phrase from the tab name you wish to find.

Note : Tab name is usually the same as the name of the website opened in that tab. However, it can also be a description of the webpage.

Safari will now automatically search for the entered keyword and show you the relevant search results on your screen. Tap and select your tab from the search results. 

And that’s how you can search for tabs in your tab groups.

Method 5: Quickly navigate to the next/previous tab

Open Safari from the home screen or app drawer on your iOS or iPadOS device.

To open the next tab, place your finger on the address bar and swipe left.

Note : If your browsing session has a tab next to your current tab, you will be able to see a protruding part of the next tab on the right side of Safari’s address bar.

While swiping, you will see an interface similar to the one depicted below.

The next tab has now been opened.

To open the previous tab, place your finger on the address bar and swipe right.

Note : If your browsing session has a tab previous to your current tab, you will be able to see a protruding part of the previous tab on the left side of Safari’s address bar.

The previous tab has now been opened.

Method 6: Find tabs using the landscape tab bar

With a slew of updates in iOS 15 came the landscape tab bar. A macOS-inspired, two-layer edition of the older one-layer address bar. The second layer, which looks similar to Safari on a mac system, displays media related to the tabs opened in your browsing session, for example, website name, website logo, and webpage description.

Let’s see how you can enable the landscape tab bar in Safari and subsequently use it to view tabs in your browsing session.

Open the Settings app on your device.

In Settings, scroll down and tap on ‘Safari’.

In the Safari app settings, scroll down to the ‘TABS’ section. Now tap and enable the toggle for ‘Landscape Tab Bar’.  

Access the control center on your device and ensure the ‘Portrait Orientation Lock’ option is switched to OFF. If not, then tap and disable the same on your device.

Now open Safari on your device.

Hold your iPhone horizontally to switch to landscape mode. All open tabs in your current browsing session will now be shown at the top of your screen. 

Method 7: Find and Safari tabs ‘Shared with you’

The ‘Shared with you’ feature came along with iOS 15 as a continuity feature, intended to help you locate the content shared with you via the iMessage app.

Among other forms of media like photos, podcasts, Apple Music, etc, the ‘Shared with you’ feature can also be used to share website links via the iMessage app. Once shared, tap and hold on to the message and then select the ‘Pin’ option.

This link will now be visible under the ‘Shared with you’ section in Safari.

Let’s see how you can find this shared link in Safari. Open Safari on your device.

Tap on the ‘Tabs’ icon in the bottom right corner. 

Now tap on the ‘+’ icon to open the start page.

On the start page, you should now have a new ‘Shared with you’ section. Tap on the shared link you want to open from this section. The link we pinned earlier will also show up here. 

The shared link will be opened in a new tab.

Method 8: Find Safari tabs using custom shortcuts

You can create custom shortcuts for Safari tabs on your home screen. This is a long-standing feature in Safari that has helped many users visit frequently accessed websites directly from their home screen. Start by visiting the URL for the website you wish to add to your home screen. Now tap on the ‘Share’ icon at the bottom of your screen. 

Scroll down and tap on ‘Add to home screen’.

Choose a name for your icon and tap on ‘Add’ in the top right corner once you are done.

The selected website will now be added as a shortcut to your home screen.

You can now access this icon from your home screen to find frequently visited tabs on your device. 

Method 9: Find Safari tabs using your current browsing session

Internet browsing sessions usually involve visiting multiple websites. If you have been searching for a particular term, then you have likely visited a few websites and followed reference links to arrive at your current page. In such cases, you might want to view your previous visits or bookmark pages that led you to the current page. You can view all your visits in the current browsing session by tapping and holding on to the back or forward icon on your screen as shown below. 

You will now get a list of all the links opened in the current browsing session that led you to the current web page.

You can now tap and select the desired web page to visit it again. Similarly, if you have used the ‘Back’ option to visit previous web pages, then you can tap and hold on to the ‘Forward’ arrow to view webpages that you left behind. 

And that’s it! You can now use this trick to find all Safari tabs that you visited in your current browsing session. 

Method 10: Find tabs using all open webpages

Some of us aren’t that adept at managing tabs including me. I often end up with multiple tab groups and tons of open tabs which makes it quite difficult to keep track of open web pages and consume information in an orderly fashion. Thankfully, Safari’s address bar trick helps a lot in such cases to find lost tabs. Simply place your finger on the address bar at the bottom of your screen and drag it to the top. This gesture will allow you to view all currently open web pages within Safari. 

You can now use this to your advantage to find the concerned Safari tab from all the open tabs within your browser.

Simply tap on the desired tab to start browsing the desired webpage.

Note: This gesture is specific to tab groups. This means that if you have multiple tab groups currently open, then using this gesture will show you all the open web pages in the selected tab group only. 

Will a search scan both my browsing session and saved tab groups?

No, if you search for a tab by its name in your current browsing session, only the tabs in this particular session will be searched. Similarly, if you search for a tab by its name in a tab group, only tabs belonging to that group will be searched.

What happens if I use the next/previous tab gesture with no additional tabs?

Swiping left on the address bar in a browsing session is supposed to take you to the next tab on the tab-view page. However, if your browsing session has no next tab, swiping left will automatically open the Safari start page in a new tab.

Can I reposition Safari’s address bar to the top?

Yes. You can shift Safari’s address bar to the top. This can be done by tapping the ‘Single Tab’ option under the TABS section in Safari’s app settings.

Will closing Safari close the tabs in a tab group?

No, closing Safari will not close the tabs opened in a tab group. The tabs in a tab group will not close until you manually close each tab.

Can I create a tab group from my browsing session?

Yes, simply, select the ‘New Tab Group from X tabs’ option in the Tab Groups menu. This will automatically create a new tab group for all your tabs in the current browsing session.

Figuring out the ins and outs of an Apple feature following an update can be a bit tricky. We hope one of the methods explained in this guide was exactly what you were looking for. 

However, If you have any more questions, feel free to reach out to us using the comments section below.

Related: 

• iOS 15: What is Landscape Tab Bar in Safari?
• What Is Website Tinting on iOS 15?
• How to Customize Safari Address Bar on iPhone on iOS 15
• How to Switch Tab Bar Position on Safari on iPhone on iOS 15
• How to Copy Links of all Open Tabs from Safari on iOS 15
• How to Use Safari With One Hand on iPhone on iOS 15
• iOS 15: How To Drag and Duplicate Tabs on Safari

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How to Pin Safari Tabs on iPhone in iOS 17

Apple allowed users to create Safari tab groups. Hence, it became possible to create a variety of tab groups so that you could quickly access a bunch of related tabs to explore different topics like technology, sports, and movies at your own pace.

While tab groups are super handy, at times, you would like to have easier access to your favorites. Guess what, Apple has made it possible as well by letting you pin Safari tabs on iPhone. Here is how you can easily pin tabs in Safari on iPhone.

What are the Benefits of Pinning Tabs in Safari?

To begin with, let’s understand how Safari’s pinned tabs feature works! There are multiple reasons why you may want to pin tabs in the Apple browser on your iPhone. First and foremost, the pinned tabs feature enables you to better organise tabs. Times when you have a number of tabs open at the same time, it plays a vital role in keeping the chaos at bay.

Moreover, this feature also makes it incredibly simple to access the sites that you tend to visit frequently. When you pin a Safari tab, it’s always at your fingertips – appears right at the top of the open tabs. Have a look at the screenshot below!

However, what I love the most about this feature is that pinned tabs always stay in place. Whether you open a new Safari window or quit/reopen Safari on your device, the pinned tabs will remain tucked in their spots.

That’s not all, even when you tap on a link to another website from a pinned tab, it opens in a new tab. As a result, your pinned tab continues to show the website you pinned. Both in terms of functionality and implementation, it’s inspired by macOS Safari. And if you are already a fan of macOS Safari, chances are it won’t take much time to win you over.

Pin Safari Tabs from the Search Bar on iPhone

The easiest way to pin Safari tabs is to get it done right from the search bar. Yeah, you read that right! You don’t need to dig deep to pin your favorite tab.

• If a tab is already open and selected in Safari, just long-press the URL ba r and choose the Pin Tab option from the popover menu and you are good to go!

Pin Safari Tabs from the Tabs Interface on iPhone

• Open Safari on your iPhone or iPad. After that, tap on the Tabs icon at the bottom right corner of the screen.
• Next, find the tab that you would like to pin. Then, touch and hold onto the tab and choose the Pin Tab option from the popover menu. And that’s about it!

Enhance Your Browsing Experience in Safari on Your iOS or iPadOS Device

So, that’s how you can make the most of the pinned tabs feature in Safari. Having tried this feature on my iPhone, I must say that it’s a worthy addition to iOS. As someone who has loved using Safari on Mac, I find its implementation in iOS Safari pretty neat.

If you are also fond of Safari, I would recommend you check out the features to let you hide Safari privacy report , save web pages to Quick Note , limit browsing to specific tab group s, and close all tabs automatically/manually .

Ratnesh Kumar

Ratnesh Kumar is an experienced tech writer with over six years of experience. All this years he has written at TechYorker, BrowserToUse, Fossbytes, MakeTechEasier, SysProbs and several other publications. When not writing, he likes to listen Punjabi music or watch Cricket match.

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iOS 17: How to Delete a Pinned Tab in Safari on iPhone

Deleting a pinned tab in Safari on your iPhone is a breeze with iOS 17. All it takes is a few taps, and voila – the tab is gone! This quick guide will show you how to do it in no time.

You can also check out this video about how to delete a pinned tab in Safari on an iPhone for additional information.

Step by Step Tutorial on How to Delete a Pinned Tab in Safari on iPhone

Before we dive into the step-by-step process, let’s understand what we’re aiming to achieve. Pinned tabs are a handy feature in Safari that allows you to keep your favorite websites open and easily accessible. However, there may come a time when you want to declutter your browser and remove some of these pinned tabs. That’s what we’re going to do.

Step 1: Open Safari

Open the Safari app on your iPhone. Make sure you’re on the main browsing interface where all your tabs are visible.

Opening Safari is straightforward – just tap on the Safari icon on your home screen or app library, and you’re good to go. Make sure you’re connected to the internet for a smooth experience.

Step 2: Locate the Pinned Tab

Swipe right to navigate to the beginning of your open tabs where your pinned tabs are located. They are usually found at the top of the screen.

Pinned tabs are smaller than regular tabs and often show just the favicon or logo of the website. If you have multiple pinned tabs, you might need to swipe a couple of times to find the one you want to delete.

Step 3: Unpin the Tab

Long press on the pinned tab that you want to delete, then select “Unpin” from the menu that appears.

When you long-press, be gentle to avoid opening the tab instead of accessing the menu options. The menu should show up after a second or two, and “Unpin” is usually the first option.

Step 4: Confirm the Action

After you select “Unpin,” the tab will become a regular tab. You can then swipe it away to the left or right to close it completely.

If you change your mind, you can always re-pin the tab by long-pressing on it again and selecting “Pin Tab.”

After completing these steps, your Safari browser should look a bit tidier. The pinned tab you selected will no longer be in the pinned section, and you’ll have more space for other tabs.

Tips for Managing Pinned Tabs in Safari on iPhone

• Pin only the tabs you use frequently to avoid clutter.
• Group similar tabs together by pinning them next to each other for easier navigation.
• Remember that pinned tabs will sync across devices if you’re using the same iCloud account, so consider this when adding or removing pinned tabs.
• Use pinned tabs to keep important web pages like your email or calendar easily accessible.
• Regularly review your pinned tabs and unpin those that are no longer needed to maintain a clean browser interface.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many tabs can i pin in safari on my iphone.

You can pin as many tabs as you want, but keep in mind that having too many can clutter your browsing interface.

Will unpinned tabs still be open in Safari?

Yes, unpinned tabs will become regular tabs and will remain open until you close them.

Can I rearrange pinned tabs?

Absolutely! Just long-press and drag the pinned tab to its new position.

Do pinned tabs use a lot of data?

Pinned tabs can refresh in the background, using some data. However, the usage is generally minimal.

Can I pin a tab in Incognito mode?

No, the incognito mode is meant for private browsing, and tabs cannot be pinned in this mode.

• Open Safari.
• Locate the pinned tab.
• Unpin the tab.
• Confirm the action by closing the now regular tab.

With iOS 17, managing your Safari browsing experience on your iPhone has never been easier. The ability to pin and unpin tabs offers a level of customization that can enhance your productivity and browsing habits. By following the simple steps outlined in this article, you can declutter your browser and keep only the most essential tabs at your fingertips. So go ahead, give your Safari a little spring cleaning, and enjoy the streamlined efficiency that iOS 17 provides. If you ever have any more questions about how to delete a pinned tab in Safari or any other iOS 17 features, don’t hesitate to dive into the wealth of resources available online. Happy browsing!

Matthew Burleigh has been writing tech tutorials since 2008. His writing has appeared on dozens of different websites and been read over 50 million times.

After receiving his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Computer Science he spent several years working in IT management for small businesses. However, he now works full time writing content online and creating websites.

His main writing topics include iPhones, Microsoft Office, Google Apps, Android, and Photoshop, but he has also written about many other tech topics as well.

Read his full bio here.

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Looks like no one’s replied in a while. To start the conversation again, simply ask a new question.

Why do my pinned tabs in safari 16.1 keep disappearing?

Why do my pinned tabs in safari keep disappearing? I have updated each tab for the same thing just to happen time & time again.

I'm using Mac OS Monterey version 12.6.1 and safari version 16.1

MacBook Pro 13″, macOS 10.13

Posted on Oct 28, 2022 9:53 AM

Posted on Dec 27, 2022 4:57 PM

Pinned sites stay in place, even when you open a new Safari window or quit and reopen Safari.  

No, they don't. This is what we're complaining about.

Similar questions

• Pinned tabs disappear after macOS 11.6/Safari 15.0 upgrade I updated my OS to Big Sur 11.6, and Safari to version 15.0 as soon as they became available a couple of weeks ago. I have numerous pinned tabs in Safari, and they have all disappeared, not once but multiple times after having re-pinned the websites I use most. What is causing this, and how can I restore the pinned tabs, other than laboriously one by one? 1756 7
• All my pinned tabs have disappeared in Safari I don't think I did anything I shouldn't have but all my pinned tabs, bar one, have disappeared from Safari. This is particularly annoying as I rely on these daily and now have to look up every site I use! Could this be a bug? 3872 2
• safari pinned tabs When I start Safari , the unpinned tabs I deleted automatically return, and are pinned. They are impossible to eliminate. 634 1

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Dec 27, 2022 4:57 PM in response to R_Gabriel

Nov 15, 2022 8:30 AM in response to R_Gabriel

NOT HELPFUL! This automated reply simply tells us how to pin tabs--we already know that. The problem is that the pinned tabs keep closing when the system restarts. There appears to be a bug with the latest update. What can be done to correct this?

Oct 31, 2022 7:31 AM in response to 4nnM

Hey there, and welcome to Apple Support Communities 4nnM,

We can certainly understand your concern and can help provide some insight.

We recommend checking out these steps on how to pinned tabs and see if it matches up on your side.

" Pin frequently visited websites in Safari on Mac

You can pin any website you visit frequently. Pinned sites stay put on the left side of your tab bar, and at the top of Tab Groups in the sidebar, so you can easily get to them at any time. Each Tab Group can have its own pinned websites.

Pin a website

• You can also Control-click a tab, then choose Pin Tab.

Rearrange pinned sites

Unpin a website

• You can also Control-click a pinned site, then choose Unpin Tab.

Duplicate a pinned site

• The pinned site opens in a separate tab.

Close a pinned tab

Pinned sites stay in place, even when you open a new Safari window or quit and reopen Safari. 

When you click a link to another website from a pinned site, the other website opens in a new tab. Your pinned site always shows the website you pinned. "

For additional information, check out this link: Pin frequently visited websites in Safari on Mac - Apple Support

These steps will help ensure your device is working with ease and can fix common issues like the ones you’re experiencing.

Kindest regards!

Oct 31, 2022 8:59 PM in response to 4nnM

Just upgraded my Old iMac late 2013 to an M1 2021 iMac and with it 3 major OS upgrades that were due. The pinned tabs feature used to work flawlessly on the old model running Catalina. The new one running Ventura must have a bug with this feature for sure. It randomly unpins them all, sometimes closes them or they just all disappear! I’m sick of re pinning them and have resorted to the favourites bar which isn’t as good. Hopefully there’s a fix for this!

Nov 25, 2022 7:58 AM in response to 4nnM

Same problem - have "rebuild" my rack of pinned webpages twice already.

The problem seem to appear when opening an existing pinned webpage, then from there try to open a link from the page "to new tab" - the "new tab" appear in the list of pinned, but as if it was a full page shown and messes up ALL the pinned webpages.

I have found zero ways to avoid or prevent the damage once it occurs - cannot be 'repaired'

Once you close Safari and reopen - the pinned webpages are gone...

Good quality assurance from Apple - but how it has been for quite some years - so sad.

I am personally leaving OSX/MacOS behind - I truly loved it over the years - it was the best OS of any and a happy marriage with Apple Mac hardware. But poor quality control, no customers in the end.

Dec 29, 2022 7:35 AM in response to stevep1

Need to step away from Cupertino my friend!! There is no resolution to this problem and it clearly still exists.

Dec 23, 2022 2:44 PM in response to R_Gabriel

Very poor that this has not been resolved by now.

R_Gabriel's response of no use at all ...the primary question was clearly not even read.

Surely it cannot be that hard to fix this issue - very frustrating indeed.

Dec 30, 2022 3:45 PM in response to R_Gabriel

Not helpful at all. This has been ongoing for months. Very frustrating that it isn't fixed by now. I always quit all windows at the end of the day, but having to remember to not quit Safari so that I don't lose my pinned sites is quite annoying.

Jan 11, 2023 1:12 PM in response to 4nnM

Appears there has been an update for the fix on 12/13/22. Currently installing. We'll see. It would be nice if Apple updated this forum. https://www.reddit.com/r/MacOSBeta/comments/yn0xoi/confirm_safari_bug_regarding_pinned_tabs/

Jan 15, 2023 2:19 PM in response to 4nnM

Same problem here.

Pinned tabs used to work just fine and so did the "windows from last session".

Since the last update, the one that introduced group tabs, things are broken.

Every time you restart Safari, you lose the pinned tabs and it doesn't open with the tabs from last session.

Running Safari Version 16.2 on Big Sur 11.7.2.

Everything seems to be up to date.

Tried the iCloud sync thing, to no avail.

Google Chrome is working just fine. It even let you choose a profile to restore tabs.

Need my Safari working again.

Dec 21, 2022 4:00 AM in response to wezkc

I am having the same issue. 100% annoying.

Dec 21, 2022 4:38 PM in response to R_Gabriel

Not very helpful. This only explains how to save the tabs, not how to resolve the issue regarding the sudden closing of pinned tabs.

How do we stop the pinned tabs from closing?

Dec 27, 2022 4:55 PM in response to 4nnM

I'm having the same issue. Safari 16.1 on Ventura 13.0. Have multiple tabs open on multiple windows and it's random which ones restore when i restart Safari. This just started happening today.

iOS 17: How to Delete a Pinned Tab in Safari on iPhone

March 21, 2024

Michael Collins

Deleting a pinned tab in Safari on your iPhone with iOS 17 is a breeze. Simply open Safari, find the tab you’ve pinned and want to remove, press and hold it, then select "Unpin" from the menu that pops up. Voilà! The tab is no longer pinned, and your Safari is a bit more organized.

How to Delete a Pinned Tab in Safari on iPhone

Before we dive into the steps, let’s understand what we’re about to do. Pinned tabs are a handy way to keep your favorite websites easily accessible in Safari. But sometimes, we need to let go of the old to make room for the new. Here’s how to do just that.

Step 1: Open Safari

Open the Safari app on your iPhone.

Safari is your gateway to the internet on your iPhone, and it’s where all your tabs live. Make sure you’ve got the app open before you try to delete a pinned tab.

Step 2: Locate the Pinned Tab

Find the tab that you’ve pinned and want to delete.

Pinned tabs are usually found at the top of the tab list, and they’re smaller than regular tabs. They’re also marked by a little pin icon, so they’re easy to spot.

Step 3: Press and Hold the Pinned Tab

Press and hold the pinned tab until a menu appears.

This step requires a bit of patience. Just tap on the tab and hold your finger there for a second or two until the menu shows up.

Step 4: Select "Unpin"

From the menu that appears, select "Unpin."

"Unpin" is the magic word. Once you tap it, the tab will no longer be pinned.

Once you’ve completed these steps, your pinned tab will disappear from the top of your Safari screen. It’ll be just like any other regular tab, free to be closed or left open as you wish.

Tips for Managing Pinned Tabs in Safari on iPhone

• Pinned tabs are great for sites you visit frequently, like your email or favorite news site.
• Remember that pinned tabs stay in place even when you close and reopen Safari.
• You can rearrange pinned tabs by pressing, holding, and dragging them to a new position.
• If you accidentally unpin a tab, don’t worry – you can always pin it again by pressing, holding, and selecting "Pin."
• Pinned tabs sync across devices if you’re using the same Apple ID, so you’ll have the same tabs pinned on your iPad and Mac.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a pinned tab.

A pinned tab is a feature in Safari that allows you to ‘pin’ a website to the tab bar, making it easily accessible.

Pinned tabs are smaller than regular tabs and are always found on the left side of the tab bar. They’re meant for websites you use a lot, so you don’t have to search for them among your open tabs.

Will deleting a pinned tab close it?

No, deleting a pinned tab will not close it. It will simply unpin it and turn it back into a regular tab.

Think of it as removing a bookmark – the book doesn’t disappear, it’s just not marked anymore.

Can I pin the same tab again after deleting it?

Absolutely! If you change your mind, you can pin any tab back again by pressing, holding, and selecting "Pin."

Pinning and unpinning are not permanent actions. Feel free to change your tabs as often as you like.

How many tabs can I pin in Safari?

The number of tabs you can pin depends on your device’s screen size, but usually, you can pin quite a few.

Just be mindful of clutter – too many pinned tabs can get overwhelming.

Can I sync my pinned tabs across devices?

Yes, if you’re signed in with the same Apple ID, your pinned tabs will sync across other devices like your iPad or Mac.

This means you’ll have a consistent browsing experience across all your devices.

• Open Safari on your iPhone.
• Find and locate the pinned tab you want to delete.
• Press and hold the pinned tab until a menu pops up.
• Select "Unpin" from the menu to delete the pinned tab.

In conclusion, managing your pinned tabs in Safari on an iPhone with iOS 17 is a simple yet effective way to keep your browsing organized and efficient. With the ability to pin your most-visited sites for quick access and the option to unpin them when they’re no longer needed, Safari offers a streamlined experience that can adapt to your changing needs. Whether you’re someone who loves to keep dozens of tabs open or you prefer a minimalist approach, knowing how to delete a pinned tab is an essential skill that enhances your browsing experience. So, go ahead and give your Safari tabs a little spring cleaning. Who knows, you might just discover a newfound love for organization, or at the very least, a slightly less cluttered browser!

Related posts:

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How to Find Your iPhone Even if It's Turned Off

T here's no way around it: Losing your phone is stressful. Luckily, if you have an iPhone , you can view its location on another device even if it's turned off. That's because iPhones can leverage Apple's Find My Network, which crowdsources other nearby Apple devices in an anonymous and encrypted way to relay your phone's location to iCloud.

Offline finding isn't new to the iPhone, but Apple has made improvements to its Find My service and its theft protection offerings over time. In last year's iOS 17 update, for example, it introduced the ability to share Find My-supported devices, such as an AirTag , with up to five other people. Earlier this year, Apple launched Stolen Device Protection as an additional measure to prevent thieves that also know your passcode from accessing crucial information. 

But it's important to remember that not every iPhone supports offline finding; this capability is only available on the iPhone 11 and later (not including the 2020 and 2022 iPhone SE). These iPhones have an ultra wideband chip, which gives them better spatial awareness. 

Here's what to know about using the Find My app. As long as you're signed into your Apple ID on the iPhone you plan to register to Find My, follow the steps below.

Turn on Find My and Find My Network

To find your phone when it's offline, you'll have to make sure Find My and Find My Network are set up. Open your iPhone's Settings menu, tap on your name and choose Find My .

Tap Find My iPhone and make sure the switch is toggled on.

Below Find My iPhone, you'll see two other options: Find My Network and Send Last Location . You should turn both of these on; the Find My Network is what allows you to locate your device when it's offline, turned off or low on power. Send Last Location will automatically save your iPhone's last location when the battery is running low.

Tip: If you want to make sure your device is discoverable even when it's off, hold the side and volume down button. Under the "slide to power off" switch, you should see a notice that says "iPhone Findable After Power Off." 

How to see your iPhone's location when it's turned off

If you've completed the steps above, you should be able to see the last location of your lost phone by signing into your iCloud account in a web browser or by using the Find My app on another Apple device. That can be either another Apple product registered to the same Apple ID or a family member's device that you've shared your location with. 

But there are a few exceptions. If your iPhone hasn't sent its location to Apple through Find My in the last seven days, you'll see "No location found" next to your device. If there's an issue with your device's location services, you also may not be able to locate your phone through Find My. 

If you have another Apple device with the Find My app

Open the Find My app and locate your iPhone in the list under the Devices tab. As previously mentioned, you should see your iPhone in this list (even if it's powered off) as long as you have the Find My iPhone, Find My Network and Send Last Location options enabled. 

Tap your iPhone. You should see a menu that presents you with a few options for finding your phone or marking it as lost. You can make the device play a sound, get directions to the device's last recorded location, mark it as lost or erase the device. 

If you don't have another Apple device with the Find My app

You can also view your device's location on the web by signing into your Apple ID. Start by going to icloud.com/find . Then sign in with your Apple ID. 

Find your missing iPhone in the Devices list. From here, you'll see the same options for playing a sound, marking your device as lost or erasing the device as you would in the app.

If you misplace your device and can't recover it through Find My, or see that it's in an unfamiliar location, it's a good idea to put it in Lost Mode. This locks your device with a passcode and suspends payment cards and transportation passes saved to Apple Pay. You can also display a phone number and message so that the device can be easily returned once found.

Apple also launched another feature meant to protect against device theft earlier this year called Stolen Device Protection . It requires another layer of authentication for certain actions to prevent thieves from performing critical actions or accessing sensitive information on your phone even if they know your passcode. For example, an iPhone with Stolen Device Protection turned on might require Touch ID or Face ID to access credit cards and passwords without asking for passcode entry as a backup. 

For more iPhone tips and advice, check out our guide to the Dynamic Island and how to block distracting websites . 

New Gestures Will Enhance the Way You Interact with Apple Devices

How to mute a browser tab: instructions for Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Opera and Safari

Enjoy a distraction-free browsing experience

• Quick steps
• Step by step guide

Final thoughts

Discovering how to mute a tab is vital if you don’t want to be plagued by loud, unexpected video ads on websites. 

All popular web browsers let you control the audio of individual tabs for more customized browsing. Whether for work or listening to music/podcasts without disturbance, muting a tab is handy for a distraction-free browsing environment. 

In this guide, we’ll show you how to mute tabs on Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge, Firefox, Opera, and Safari . And if you want to optimize your browsing experience further, consider our roundup of the best ad blockers . 

Steps for how to mute a tab

• Mute site on Chrome: right-click the tab then click Mute Site. 
• Mute tab on Chrome: Add Tab Muter extension , then click the mute icon. 
• Edge, Firefox, Opera, and Safari: click the speaker icon on the tab to mute it.

Step by step guide to mute a tab

As of May 2024, Google Chrome has an option to mute sites, but not to mute tabs. To demonstrate how to mute tabs on Chrome, we’ve used the Tab Muter extension , but you could select a different one. 

1. Mute a site on Google Chrome

Right-click the tab (at the top) and select Mute Site from the drop-down menu. This will mute all tabs that contain pages from the same website. 

2. Mute a tab on Google Chrome

Select the Tab Muter extension in the Chrome Web Store, click Add to Chrome, and then confirm by clicking Add Extension. Once added, go to the tab you want to mute and click the Mute Tab icon in the toolbar.  To ensure the extension is easily accessible, click the Extensions icon in the Chrome toolbar and select the pin icon beside Tab Muter.

3. Mute a tab on Microsoft Edge, Firefox, Opera, and Safari

There are three ways to mute tabs on Microsoft Edge and Mozilla Firefox:

1. Right-click the tab and select Mute Tab from the dropdown menu. 

2. Click the speaker icon on the tab. 

3. Hit Ctrl + M on your keyboard. 

For Opera and Safari, the first two methods listed above work, but not the keyboard shortcut.

Muting tabs goes a long way in creating a more focused and interruption-free browsing experience. And with the steps outlined above, you can conveniently mute Chrome, Edge, Firefox, Opera, and Safari tabs.  

Looking for more tips to optimize your browsing experience? Learn how to get Firefox dark mode , how to view and clear your web browsing history in Safari , and how to use profiles in Chrome .

You might also like...

• How to use profiles in Chrome to keep home and work separate
• I'm sick of Chrome eating all my RAM - it's time for me to ditch it
• Chrome on Android just got a time-saving feature you'll definitely want to use

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Nikshep Myle is a freelance writer covering tech, health, and wellbeing. He has written for popular tech blogs like Tom's Guide, GadgetReview, SlashGear, and Creative Bloq, and has extensively reviewed consumer gadgets. When he’s not writing, you’ll find him meditating, gaming, discovering new music, and indulging in adventurous and creative pursuits.

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• Beyond Chrome and Safari: The Best Alternative Web Browsers for 2024

If you stick to Chrome, Edge, Firefox, or Safari, you're missing out on the intriguing extras in the best alternative web browsers.

Colibri Browser

Tor Browser

Large tech companies like Apple, Google, and Microsoft promote their  web browsers  on their devices and operating systems, but you don't have to use them. Alternative web browsers—many you may not have heard of before—give you unique and interesting capabilities, such as greater customization, added privacy, and different browsing tools. For example, some have a reading mode that shows you a cleaned-up view of an article so you can focus on the words without distracting ads and videos. That's just one of many examples of how you can benefit from using an alternative browser. Here, you'll find some alternative browsers that are well worth your consideration. If you have a favorite lesser-known browser that’s not listed here, please let us know in the comments section.

Deeper Dive: Our Top Tested Picks

Unlike other web browsers, Arc requires you to sign up with an email account before using it. But that's a small price to pay for its minimalist interface, split window option, and AI assistance. The browser runs on Windows, iOS, and macOS, with a waitlist for the Android version.

It's true that most of what you find in Arc you also find in Edge or other alternative browsers like Vivaldi, but it's a different take on the web browser that appeals to some users. The interface has a collapsible side panel for tabs rather than tabs across the top, like most desktop browsers. Buttons for your favorites rest on the top of the sidebar, and you can group tabs into custom folders. You also get a Spaces feature that resembles Edge's Workspaces. You can send Arc Spaces to a contact, but they're not collaborative like Edge's.

The browser's AI Arc Max feature sends certain browsing activity to OpenAI and Anthropic for features like summarizing webpages, answering general knowledge questions, or suggesting activities. Arc ships with uBlock, one of the best ad blockers you can get, though The Browser Company, which makes Arc, doesn't highlight special privacy features like Brave and some other alternative browsers do. The browser is free, and the company says it doesn't sell any of your data.

Bottom Line:

Colibri has a truly different take on the web browser: It has no tabs! You need to sign up for a free account with an email to use it, however. Minimalists will love Colibri's pared-down interface, which dispenses with all the doodads and whirligigs found in today's leading browsers. It shows just six buttons at the top: Back, Forward, Reload, Add to Links, Web Search, and Toggle View.

When you log in, your saved links, lists, and feeds appear. Instead of opening sites in new tabs, you get a choice of a new window or replacing the current window's contents. The Toggle view shows your pinned site links in tiles for easy access. Colibri blocks third-party trackers, ads, and malicious hosts, but don't expect extensions or other extras. If less is more for you, then Colibri is your browser. The HTML5Test website reports that Colibri has a high level of website compatibility, but the EFF's Cover Your Tracks tool reports that it doesn't protect you from tracking, so caveat emptor.

One of my favorite features in Maxthon is its Resource Sniffer. It lets you find and download pictures, videos, music, and other files that are part of the webpage you're visiting. Another standout option, Split Screen, has been slow to appear in standard browsers like Chrome, Edge, and Firefox. It also has synchronizable notes, a password saver, and built-in screenshot capabilities. Like Opera, Maxthon has a customizable left button rail for notes, favorites, RSS feeds, and so forth. I also like the built-in screenshot tool and a Night Mode that turns web pages black with white text to save your eyes during late-night web reading.

Maxthon's documentation claims it doesn't do any tracking of your browsing. You have the option to install a free VPN called BrightVPN at installation. Unlike the proxy built into Opera, this one is a full VPN, cloaking all internet traffic to your device. Finally, Maxthon boasts a built-in blockchain wallet option for Web3 compatibility, but you can find those in Brave and Opera, or add one as an extension in just about any other browser.

Opera  has been an alternative browser since before several of the current leaders in the category existed. Its developers are responsible for introducing many standard features we now take for granted, including tabs, built-in search, a pop-up blocker, and page zooming. Not all of Opera’s novel developments have lasted the test of time, which says something about its willingness to try something unconventional. For example, Opera formerly let you use it as a server so that you could host your own photo galleries or chat rooms and access them from anywhere.

Opera is the first browser with a built-in (and very good) VPN, a cryptocurrency wallet, and built-in ad blocking. The Opera Flow feature takes syncing between mobile a desktop to a new level. The latest? Opera has announced integration with ChatGPT , starting with a Shorten summarization feature.

Though ad blocking isn’t turned on by default in Opera you can get it by checking the option called “Block ads and surf the web up to three times faster.” Like many browser alternatives, Opera runs on top of the Chromium code base, which powers Chrome, so you’re unlikely to run into site incompatibilities.

• Built-in ad blocker, VPN, and battery saver.
• Fast performance.
• Helpful Speed Dial start page.
• Turbo mode speeds up slow connections, reduces data usage.
• Gestures for easy navigation.
• Some sites balk at an unrecognized browser.
• No reading mode or reading list.
• Lacks social sharing tool.

Tor is more than a browser; it’s a complete privacy software stack. Tor traffic is not only encrypted, but also forwarded to multiple nodes, with each successively encrypting it again. At the end your traffic is inside multiple layers, like those of an onion. Hence the name Tor, which stands for  the onion router.  Private Tor sites even use the .onion extension. Those sites make up what's known colloquially as the dark web .

The browser itself is based on Firefox, with some privacy extensions and settings locked, so standard websites display just fine inside this private browsing space. The big downside is all that routing and encryption slow down your browsing considerably. Despite that, it's the ultimate tool for people in repressive countries who need to circumvent internet filtering or those who simply demand privacy and anonymity. For even more of that, you can set it up so that the ISP doesn't know you're using it by using a bridge relay or by running it in Tails , a portable OS you run from a USB key. If you don't want to install extra software, Brave (see entry above) offers a built-in Tor private browsing option.

• Easily connects to the Tor anonymizing network
• Simple interface for complex security tools
• Feature-rich browser
• Integrated privacy tools
• Slows down browsing
• Finding localized websites can be difficult
• Some privacy features may be confusing to novice users

Coming from one of the creators of the Opera browser, Vivaldi has customization galore and has garnered passionate fans among the technorati. It’s based on the Chromium open source browser code that’s managed by Google and used in its Chrome browser. You can enable, disable, and tweak every minute aspect of the browser. Vivaldi resembles Opera in using a tile-based start page, tab previews, mouse gestures, and a side rail of buttons for frequent actions like note-taking, downloads, history, and favorites.

Standout features include a split screen, clutter-free printing, and an Image Properties view complete with a histogram. A favorite trick of mine is that the browser window changes color to match the site you’re on. Vivaldi now includes an email client as well as Mastodon integration. In another great example of stretching our concept of what a browser is, Vivaldi lets you control Philips Hue smart bulbs based on the browser's color pattern!

• Precisely customizable.
• Compliant with Web standards.
• Excellent tab implementation.
• Can get cluttered if you enable all of its tools.
• No Reading mode or Share button.
• Lacks syncing and mobile versions.

Buying Guide: Beyond Chrome and Safari: The Best Alternative Web Browsers for 2024

More on web browsers.

Even the market leading web browsers seldom sit still, with Chrome, Edge, Firefox, and Safari getting frequent updates. See our head-to-head comparisons: Chrome, Edge, Firefox, Opera, or Safari: Which Browser Is Best?

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About Michael Muchmore

PC hardware is nice, but it’s not much use without innovative software. I’ve been reviewing software for PCMag since 2008, and I still get a kick out of seeing what's new in video and photo editing software, and how operating systems change over time. I was privileged to byline the cover story of the last print issue of PC Magazine , the Windows 7 review, and I’ve witnessed every Microsoft win and misstep up to the latest Windows 11.

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